Monster and Monstrosity in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Bc. Žaneta Skalošová

Master's thesis

Abstract:

Diplomová práce Monster and Monstrosity in Mary Shelley's ̓Frankenstein se zabývá strukturou a definicí monstra v románu Frankenstein. Práce se skládá ze dvou hlavních částí. První část se zaměřuje na různá pojetí monstra v literatuře, jakož i na definici a aspekty slova monstróznost, jako jsou vražda, strach, hrozba, nenávist, bída a zármutek. Druhá část se zaměřuje na výklad slova monstróznost v souvislosti s hlavními postavami a autorkou románu, a především na jejich roli v tomto románu. Práce se rovněž zaměřuje na pojetí lásky a nedostatek lásky v souvislosti s monstrem. Diplomová práce nám také zprostředkovává důležité události z života Mary Shelley. Podstatná část práce je založena na citacích románu Frankenstein, které doplňují myšlenky autorky této práce, ale zároveň i na citacích sekundárních zdrojů.

Abstract:

The diploma thesis Monster and Monstrosity in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein attempts to determine the concept and the identity of the monster in the novel Frankenstein. The thesis is divided into two main parts. The first part discusses various interpretations of the monster in literary history and also deals with several features defining monstrosity such as murder, fear, threat, hatred, misery and sorrow. The second part of the thesis defines what kind of monstrosity is represented by the characters and the author in this novel, as well as how their role is put forward in this writing. The analysis also concentrates on the matter of love as well as the absence of love in connection with the monster. Throughout the thesis evidence of some real events during Mary Shelley’s time is provided. The thesis mainly focusses on extracts from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein to support the statements and ideas of the author of this thesis, however, highly important quotations from secondary sources are also included.

Keywords

monster, creature, giant, daemon, murder, science, non-human, experiment, monstrum, stvůra, obr, démon, vražda, věda, nelidský, pokus

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 1. 12. 2015

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 26. 1. 2016
• Supervisor: Mgr. Lucie Podroužková, Ph.D.
• Reader: Mgr. Jiří Šalamoun, Ph.D.

Masaryk University

Faculty of Education

Master programme / field:
Teacher Training for Primary and Lower Secondary Schools / Lower Secondary School and Language School Teacher Training in English Language